EVENTS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5803, 22 January 1906, Page 4

EVENTS OF THE DAY.

ANNIVERSARY DAY. To the general public the importance of Anniversary Day !;ui not in tho event it commemorate;;, but in tho fact that it is .1 public holiday; and tho public's chief preoccupation is tho weather that will bo provided by a proverbially uncertain “clerk.’’ Tho date fixed for Wellington’s celebration is that of tho arrival of the first body of immigrante at Port Nicholson, a short sixty-six years ago. Tho year It-10 was noteworthy for other events than tho foundation of Wellington. On tho -Oth of January the first steamer arrived in New Zealand, and a week after the landing of tho Wellington Pilgrim Fathers, Captain Hobson, R.N., arrived at tho Bay of Islands, and on the following dav, hoisting tho Union Jack, ho read tho commission which extended tho boundaries of New .South Wales no as to include New Zealand, and his own commission ns Lieu-tenant-Governor over tho territory of New Zealand. Proclamations of sovereignty over tho islands of New Zealand wore made on May 21st. The same year witnessed the proclamation of tho Queen's sovereignty over tho .Middle Island at Olondv Bav on Juno 17th ; and tho British fl ag hoisted at Akaroa, after tho histone race with the French frigate, L’Aubc, on August lllh, tho French boat arriving on tho 13th, and the Comte do Paris, with fifty-seven disappointed French immigrants on hoard, on tho Kith of the same month. September 13th saw the British flag hoisted at Auckland, and tho Lieu-ton.wt-Govcrnor’p residence established there. The year 18-10 was also noteworthy for the formation of tho Wanganui sett lenient under the name of “Poire,” and tho signing, on February sth, of the celebrated Treaty of Waitangi, an artistic relief of which is to form ono of tho panels of tho Victoria statue. It. was not till May 3rd cf the following year that New Zealand was proclaimed to ho independent of Now South Wales; but “ independence day ” is in this colony an uncoranwmorated date. Tho Nelson settlement was founded on February Ist, 18-13, and this event is to bo celebrated by a muebodrertised carnival that will prove an attractive excuse for a visit of Wellington citizens to tho quiet little beautiful cit.v across the Straits. Our own Anniversary Day has also a gloomy remembrance, as on January 22nd, 1901, tho death of Queen Victoria occurred. TRENTHAM RACECOURSE. Tho now course of the Wellington Racing Club at Trent ham was opened on Saturday, under most favourable conditions, both as regards weather and tho quality of the sport provided. Tho thousands of people who attended tho inaugural meeting were conveyed to and from the ground with celerity and safety by the Government Railways Department, tho officials of which are to bo congratulated upon the efforts to cope with the unusually heavy traffic. There were complaints to V.o heard as to tho alleged defects of t he arrangements; but most of the inconvenience that was experienced resulted from the fact of tho public not being acquainted with the new methods adopted. At the course, too, there were not a few grievances ventilated, some of which had solid foundation. It is not, however, our intention to refer in detail to any of tho defects. Wo recognise—and tho reasonable section of the public, cf course, docs so too—that allowance must bo made for the inevitable friction incidental to the working of any now machinery. Tho friction on Saturday last was not greater than was to be expected in connection with s great departure in the matter of ‘catering for the sporting public; in fact, considering how new and uniriixT everything was, the large asset r. Id ago was handled and catered for with a surprising amount of satisfaction. With tho experience gained at tho first day's racing, it may be confidently anticipated that the official*, caterers, and the rest will have everything in complete working order to-day, and that there will be no occasion for grumbling. All the visitors on Saturday were loud in their praise of tho excellent and convenient site clioson for the racecourse, of the beauty of the surrounding*, and of the splendid appointments and ample accommodation provided. Even with the few drawbacks to which wo have alluded, it. was generally conceded that the new course is immeasurably superior to the old, especially in tho matters of easy access, comfort, and shelter. Given fino weather to-day, another most enjoyable day’s eporfc may be expected. AN ANCIENT TEMPLE. A recent telegram stated that. .Messrs Thomas Cook and Son, tourist agents, had decided to forward to the New Zealand International Exhibition the wonderful model of an Egyptian temple that created so much admiration .it the St. Louis Exposition last year. The

•model in question i« one of the famous Temple of Edfu. on llie banks of tho Nile. .TK> mill's lima Cairo. An Egypto!ogi.-';. writing of thU obi tompU*. says r!i:i; is yet Blands in a comparatively pcrtW-t. elate. and is one of ilio _ most stately ir.oiimmius of ancient Egypt, although of a time when an had greatly declined. It v.;o dedicated to liar-hot. limped of the place, which tho Greeks ! called Apathodaenmn, The great pvopy- | lon which forms the trout ol the! templo na-astiri's about 22d lect ill I width. and is in a prod Mate ol tire- j servatton. The portico hehinil th<'| wings of the propylon is the entrance to t lie temple, of which tho lirsl pan is a (treat eonrt about lot) use Ion" and 1 hi loot broad, with a eoloimado alon;; its irnnt, and each side of columns with various capitals Mipnoilm" covered P'al'erh". At the end is a portico having eighteen colnimis, ahont eighty-two leel broad and for!y-.six feet long. Bchiml this is a hall and passages and Oilier ehainheris, tho most interesting of which is an isolated is'fnctnary. | The sculptures show that the Temple of Exlfu was E'guti hy Ptolemy Philoptor. and ccmpletod at the end of the oreek Monarchy, though an insignificant part was -subsequent iy added hy Claudius. The model is of ample sir.e, and will have considerable educative vah.e, besides being of great interest to the "literal public. LOCAL AND ©EIMERAL. Last week twenty-sis acres of land opi>osite tho Lower Unit railway _ station was sold hy Air E. J. lliddiford to a syndicate for .030,000. The Public "Works Department lias prepared plans for tho cylinder bridge over the W.itaroa river, South Westland. Tenders will be called immediately. Tho Health Department states that during last week the number of cases of diseases reported at Wellington was s—scarlet fever 3, enteric fever 1, diphtheria 1. No cases wore reported in Htitt county,. The train which carried excursionists from Hokitika to Lake Mahiiiapua on tho occasion of tho opening of a new section of railway by Mr Sedtkm a few days ago was tho largest, ever run in Westland. H carried 3000 passengers. Very complete arrangements have been made fertile Port Nicholson Yacht Club’s regatta,,■ at Evans Bay, and tho carnival to be held at Scatouu to-day. Given fine weather, it is expected that largo crowds will attend these functions. A further selection of hold-over correspondence upon tho question, 11 Aro Women Civilised appears on page 2 of this issue. Though wo have closed this correspondence, there yet remain a largo batch of letters, which will appear in subsequent issues. A correspondent, " Early Bird Catches tho Worm,” writes _ complaining of tho lato hour at which the reading-room of tho Public Library is opened in the mornings. Ho suggests that tho City Ootmcil should adopt tho Christchurch hour, D a.in. instead of 10 a.in. Mr S. Goklroich, of South Africa, a member of the Contra! Executive of tlio Jewish Zion movement, is to deliver a lecture this evening at tho Synagogue Chambers at 8 o'clock on “Zionism; its benefits to tho Jewish Nation.” Mr GoldroicJi loaves for tho South to-mor-row, ami then goes to Australia. There is every indication of tho forthcoming Mastcrton A. and P. Association’s sltow being tho most successful yot hold. The secretary <Mr G. 11. Sykes) is receiving applications for space, entry forms anti programmes from all parts of tho colony. The ground space already taken exceeds that of former years, whilst tho coverodi:i space is being eagerly competed for. At tho City Police Court on Saturday Patrick O’Kogan pleaded guilty to stealing two end a quarter yards of cloth and an overcoat, valued tit £O, tho property of Alfred Watkins. Ho was remanded for sentence till the 23rd inpt. For importuning, Elizabeth Black, aiiiß Mary Grant, was convicted, and ordered to oorno up for sentence when cailtd upon. On tho civil side judgment wan given for plaintiff, by default, in an action P. Hnyinan and Co. v. 11. Lavers—a claim for £27. 10s. Cooks (£2 16s) were allowed.

On Saturday tbo body of the Into Robert Parkinson, who was a quarter-master-sergeant in tho Sixth Contingent rent to Africa, was buried with military honours at Karori. A party of twenty-one artillerymen, under Sergeant Moir, attendee! as representative of tho Defence Department, and the pall-bcarcrs were half a dozen ex-mem-bers of Die Sixth Contingent. Messrs Cahill and Todd represented the Colonial Secretary'a Office and tho Tourist Department respectively. Tho Rev C. IV. J. Madavcrty, Anglican clergymen, officiated at tbo graveside. Sir Joseph Ward on Friday received a telegram from Mr C. M. Gray, M.H.IL, stating that a collector had gone to tho Chatham Islands for tho purpose of securing birds' skins, and had returned with a largo number. Air Gray asked that, tho Colonial Secretary should take steps to stop the wholesale slaughter of birds. Sir Joseph replied as follows; —•' Who is it that lias returned from tho Islands-with birds’ skins? Imb quite in accord with tiie desire to preserve the birds of tho oolony, and 1 will mako inquiries in Uio matter if you will kindly wire mo the name of tho collector.”

About a hundred ratepayers attended a meeting at Christchurch on Friday evening to- consider proposals of Uw Tramway Board to borrow an additional £IOO,OOO for tho reconstruction of the city and suburban lino to Richmond and Bunvood, tho acquirement of certain interests bold by tbo proprietors of that line, tbo construction of now lines to East St. Albans, Op.r.va, and Fendalton, tho construction of several new loop lines and extra tracks, and additions to tbo power-plant, buildings, and rolling-etock. After the chairman of tho Board had explained tho details of tho scheme, a motion to submit the matter to a poll of ratepayers was carried.

Tho report of tho Wellington Trust, Loan, ami Investment Company, to He presented at tho thirty-third annual meeting, at tho Chamber of Commerce, on February Ist, states that tho net profits for tho year ■were £10,913 5s lk[. to which has to be added £ll9O lea 2d brought forward from tho previous year, making £12,401 Os lid. from which I'lOoO has already Imvii taken and paid as an interim dividend. The sum of £2OOO taken from the profits, has been mlc'cd to tho morro fund. The directors recommend a further dividend of 1 per cent., which will .vh-orb £‘-1050 (making together 8 per can*.. for the year), and that- tho balance. £ll7O-! Ct lid. be carried forwtrd. Messrs James Lockio nnd C. T. Richardson, who retiro from tho Hoard of directors, odor themselves for re-election.

In our report of tho disaster that occurred at the entrance to Wellington harbour cm Diwcinlwr 31 ~t. wo stated that John Mclntosh Macdonald, who was one of those lost in that calamity, walked from Invercargill to Dunedin with his brother u> ms' the Duke of York. t'aplain Macdonald, harbour-mr.-ter at Kiulf, writes to say that this Kt.ttfim'nt made <cm«Tnin" his late non is inrun.Ht. Tile name ol tho boys wlio walked to Diuiedin on the ooutsion of the Uoyal visit was Adcock. Tho painting ami decorating of tho grandstand and buildings at tho new rtircrouioe at Treulham was the work of Mr \V. G. Tiwtin’s staff of workmen. Jlr A. J. Wicks resumes music Scosons on Monday next. Mt ,-n. Crichton and McKay invite lenders ior erection of consumptives' hospital, Newtown. The annual ram fair will take place nt the show gi-nunde. Palmerston North, on February Ist and 2nd. Mvbsrw J. J, Eaton and Sons. Johnson, v.llc, grocers and storekeepers. aroogenta for the "N.Z. Times” and “Mail.” Abraham and Williams, Ltd., soil stock at .lohnsnnvillo on Wednesday, and at Palmerston on Thursday. Tho N.Z.L, and M.A. Co. holds a sale of stock <m Thursday at Palmerston. (hi Thursday next Messrs Baker Bros hold a sale of valuable freehold properties, silmito at tioldio’s Brae, Hud. P<v tono and Island Bay. The steamer llakanoa has arrived with a cargo of State coal, which will lie Bold from the ship’s side to-morrow at 22s per ton. A idiccp farm of COCK) acres is advertised for sale by Orchard's Estate Agency. Messrs Sidoy, Mecca and Co. ttell hy auction ut 27, Bussell terrace, Newtown, on Wednesday, 'household furniture mid effects, without reserve. _ To-morrow at their rooms, the firm will offer for sat* a piano and liomwliold furniture. At Otaki ou the 31st inet. they will «H tho furniture and effect* of the Kov. Mr McWilliams, who is leaving tho district. Tho first terra nt Wellington College begins on February Ist. and at tho Girls’ College on February Sill. There will be a frequent service to Day's Bay today. The tlrac-tablo to be observed by the steamers is advertised in another column. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., sell Mr W. Drewetfs stock from Belmont at tipper Hull on Thursday. February 1«L Mesirs Scatouu and SI addon invito tenders for street work at Mnulerion. The offices of the Co-operative Building Societies 'rill bo closed to-day. Alternative tenders ore called for in connection with the disposal of tho Criterion Hotel, Wanganui.